Managing Data Folders in the Primary Classroom

Managing data folders in the primary classroom doesn’t have to take a lot of time. In this post I’ll share some management tips plus how I’ve learned to use student data folders effectively to guide my instruction, but most of all, give my students a voice in their learning. Learn how to implement this valuable tool and pretty much make it manage itself. I’ve even included a free data folder classroom kit at the end of this post to get you started.

Prepping Your Data Folders

I use paper pocket folders with prongs. I find the labels won’t stick to the plastic ones. Inside our folders I include graphs for reading fluency, math pre and posttest, and spelling. We are required to track all of these at my school, but you can include any subjects you like. We keep the discussion questions in the left hand pocket and glue the labels o the front of the folders.

Teach Your Students to Understand Their Data

Explicitly teach students to monitor their progress and how to interpret their data. Make up a few example graphs and project them to discuss. Ask your students what they can determine about the example student’s progress. Use the discussion questions sheet to guide your students in determining the example student’s scores, their strengths, and what they need to work on.

Set Learning Goals

Once students understand what their data is showing them and how they can use it to monitor their progress, teach them to set realistic and achievable goals for themselves. Discuss ways your students can accomplish their goals and what they can do if they don’t meet them. With your guidance, students can work toward successfully meeting goals in a systematic way.

Give Your Students Feedback

Feedback from you is key. It gives purpose to the process and without it, many learning opportunities are missed. Meet with students briefly to conference one on one or during small group times to guide them in setting their goals. The subject or activity you are collecting data on will determine how often you meet and set new goals with students. For example, if my students are tracking their Accelerated Reader (AR) levels and points, I would help them set a goal at the start of each 9 weeks. I briefly check in with several students each day to conference during our AR time. Tracking reading fluency would happen weekly or bi-weekly with conferencing during guided reading groups.

Have a Coaching Conversation

Have a “coaching conversation” where you listen to students’ insights and interpretations. Give feedback that guides them in where they need to be and how they can get there. Encourage students to set small, incremental goals that are achievable. Setting clearly defined, realistic goals that include a plan for how to accomplish them, gives students a sense of pride and satisfaction in their accomplishments as well as motivation to achieve.

Set Up Routine That Works for Your Class

It’s important to find a routine that works for you and your students or you just won’t do it. I know from experience I tend to avoid things that aren’t working. Recording their data doesn’t need to take a lot of time. Once students are familiar with the routine, it can be done in under 5 minutes without taking up instructional time.

Keep data folders handy for your students, rather than taking extra time to pass them out. I have students record math facts and weekly spelling as I pass back their graded tests. Teach students the format you want them to use for writing in the category. For example, they can write the date, week 1, week 2, by standard, by concept etc. You might also want to write in the categories before you make copies. For spelling, I write in the spelling pattern tested before I copy my class set of graphs. I also copy everything I use at the start of each quarter.

If you are not already using data folders, I’ve put together a free classroom kit to get you started!

The kit includes:

4 different folder labels

10 different graphs in a variety of scales and increments

Student discussion questions to guide conferencing & goal setting

This flexible resource includes scales in increments of 5 and 10. Differentiate easily with graphs that go to 80, 100, and 200. Titled and untitled graphs are also included. This file is NOT editable, but I’ve included blank versions for you to write the title at the top and categories at the bottom.

Hi Brittany,
The files themselves are not editable, but you could certainly block out the scale and make a copy, then use that ‘blank’ to create a master that fits your students by handwriting in a new scale.

Hi Emma!
Once you subscribe, by adding your email address in the pop-up, you will receive an email where you will need to confirm your subscription. There will be a link to the download there also. Be sure to check your promotions, social, and spam folders for the email as some email services will send there. If they do, you’ll want to move it to your primary inbox.

Hi Kristen!
Once you subscribe, by adding your email address in the pop-up, you will receive an email where you will confirm your subscription. There will be a link to the download there also. If you use Gmail be sure to check your promotions, social, and spam folders for the email as Gmail will sometimes send it there. If they do, you’ll want to move it to your primary inbox. I hope this helps, and thanks so much for subscribing!

Hi Dana,
thanks so much for subscribing! You will receive an email where you will need to confirm your subscription. There will be a link to the download in the email. Be sure to check your promotions, social, and spam folders for the email as some email services will send it there. If they do, you’ll want to move it to your primary inbox.
Hope this helps and you enjoy the date folders!

Hi Kelly,
The data folder is free when you subscribe to the blog. Be sure to check your spam folder for the confirmation email. In that email, you confirm your subscription and there will be a link to download the data folder resource. Hope this helps, and thanks so much for subscribing!
Linda

I signed up to the newsletter (that I am taken to when I click on the data folder info) three times now. I checked in my junk mail and email (Around the Kampfire) and I still haven’t received data folder information. .Not sure what I’m doing wrong. Thanks.

Hi Kelly,
I’m sorry you’re having trouble! Be sure to check your Spam,Social, and Promotions folders. the email may say from Linda @ Around the Kampfire. I just tested it and it is working correctly so the email may be in one of your other folders.

Sandy, I just subscribed you manually to the data folders. You should receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription with a link to the download. Be sure to check spam, social, promotions folders in case it went there.
Linda

Hi Krista! Yes, assessing correctly read words per minute is one way I assess reading fluency using these graphs. Although this is something I don’t use the fluency graphs for, we also want to work with students on their automaticity, phrasing, intonation, and expression. These provide us with clues to their comprehension.